Armed Dukes (Joe Cain & Dj Drinks) have been composing beats for many years, taking a purist approach and using traditional methods to create their own unique style and sound. With a number of production credits including two solo albums by Dj Drinks/The Summit (Nocturnes & Rift Valley) along with production for artists like Cappo, Melanin9 & DFace DXA they have a strong reputation for producing original, high quality, thoughtfully crafted boom bap beats.

‘Calibre’ is the long awaited follow-up to the duos highly acclaimed ‘Quadrant’ LP released on MUJ in 2016. Crafted between 2016 and 2017, these tracks were forged through unique work flows and sounds, with raw samples and massive SP1200 breaks pounding the dynamic range. The pair’s meticulous “they make it sound easy” approach to programming comes through on tracks such as ‘Strife’ and ‘Falling Down’ where simple samples are subtly layered to affect the synapses and emotions. Literally armed with 4 Emax samplers, the lush layers and analog filters make their warm presence felt particularly on tracks such as ‘Nil By Mouth’ and ‘Sentence’. Once you hear it you’ll agree this album has a sonic texture all of it’s own.

This is an album guaranteed to satiate any hip hop aficionado’s craving for raw, no nonsense 12-Bit boom bap while also providing new, desperately needed flavours to the instrumental Hip Hop scene.

CONFUCIUS MC feat JEHST ‘THE ART-FORM PT.2’ NEW VIDEO & SINGLE OUT NOW

“This is simply a cut above the rest, lyrically and musically.” (The Wire Magazine) “Welcome back to the green and lush pastures of authenticity where the true principles of hip hop music thrive and are not forsaken” (I am Hip Hop magazine)

Fresh Off the back of a very strong 12 months of performing and promoting, the highlights of which included supporting JEHST on two UK tours, Outlook festival and a main support slot for Kate Tempest’s sold out Brixton academy show; Confucius MC and producer Mr Brown deliver the visuals for ‘The Art-form PT.2’. Featuring a guest verse from UK Hip Hop icon Jehst, the single is lifted from the critically acclaimed ep THE ARTFORM released on We Stay True last year.

Shot in a south London gallery (Ben Oakley gallery) the two lyricists place themselves in the center of the frame, delivering a seamless demonstration of the art of rap laid over Mr Brown’s dark and dusty soundscape. High art Hip Hop at its finest.